Education Choices WINTER 2021
TH E KEY TO YO U R CH ILD’ S SUCCESS
ECM PODCAST INTERVIEW
Simon James Green (LGTBQ+ author) discusses his new book
CLIMATE CHANGE
How are children, schools and universities responding to COP26?
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION FEATURES INCLUDE: Gender equality in schools, diversity in books and supporting deaf children
SPECIAL FEATURE
A FATHER’S PERSPECTIVE Education Corner podcast interview with Marvyn Harrison (Dope Black Dads)
SURREY SCHOOLS SPECIAL - INCLUDING MAINTAINED AND INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS PLUS A SAVILLS PROPERTY UPDATE
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03 Reading Corner: Books to inspire the Brave and Bold A young reader, Benji, makes some useful book recommendations
06-09 The 12 Days of Christmas 12 nurseries reveal their festive activities in the run up to Christmas
10 Christmas Cupcakes Leiths School of Food and Wine share an exciting recipe for you to try at home
11 Returning to ‘normal’ Combatting anxiety
12-13 Wings of Independence Encouraging children to become more resilient
14 A school advent calendar delivers a Christmas miracle! The teachers at Park Lane Primary got a lie in
15 What will the world look like when I grow up? The Eyes on You Campaign
16 How can we help prevent Climate Change? A young girl’s perspective
17 Climate Change Day Swaffield School addresses climate change concerns
18 Self-Belief Overcoming the monster
EDUCATION CORNER PODCAST SPECIAL FEATURE: 20-27 Education Choices Podcast Interview with Marvyn Harrison 28-30 Education Choices Podcast Interview Children’s author and LGBTQ+ writer, Simon James Green
19 Education Corner Podcast Churcher’s College Nursery and Junior School’s Ffion Robinson
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30 Lifting Limits
Challenging gender stereotypes in primary schools
31 Shining a Light Diversity in Children’s Literature
33 Lancing College Choir Choral excellence from over 55 pupils
34 Managing safeguarding and mental health in a pandemic Riverston School are addressing the mental health of their children post the pandemic
36 What are schools here for? St Edward’s School stresses the importance of wellbeing when supporting students
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In the Winter issue... 38 The Wellington College Competition for Chemistry has been launched!
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Naomi and Ollie discuss the motivation behind their competition and tips for success
40 The power of a values-led school to create a better future South Bank University Academy have a vision for the future
41 Don’t forget about the Children Climate change poem from an English student at the University College London
42 World Changers
47
Bristol students headed to COP26 climate conference
43 Implementing change Informing parliamentarians on climate change
44 ‘Life-changing’ scholarship for refugees and asylum seekers grows 45 Scholarship boost Legal minds of the future
Offering students a financial education Arden University looks to help students get online through hardship fund
46 Introducing the new LSBU Croydon campus The LSBU Group has a powerful mission to transform lives
LIZ HENSON
The University of Bristol changes lives as it expands its Sanctuary Scholarship
47 Myths and misconceptions surround deafness What’s the real story?
48 Help!
When is it needed most?
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49 Surrey house prices expected to rise by 10.4 per cent in next five years Savills reveals latest research
50-51 Winter Magic Galuchat Design celebrates ‘getting cozy’ over the coming months…
SURREY SCHOOLS SPECIAL
30
52-54 Maintained School Options 55-64 Independent School Options
Editor: Tatiana Summers Photography: www.shimilimears.com Magazine design: www.petercharlesdesign.com
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NURSERY NEWS
12 Days of Christmas Ark Start John Archer Nursery Ark Start John Archer is a new nursery 6 minutes walk from Clapham Junction train station. It was set up by a group of qualified teachers who are committed to making sure that every child has a joyful, engaging and secure nursery experience. Our nursery is about much more than childcare. Our expert staff have created a nursery where children can play, learn and have fun together. Ark Start John Archer is also a place where families can come together, share their experiences
and build support networks. This week the children have been making their very own salt dough winter decorations and ornaments to take home. Children demonstrated a range of skills across the EYFS areas of learning as they mixed, kneaded and rolled out the dough, all the time having lovely conversations about all things winter. Just one of the many activities planned to celebrate the winter season! www.arkstart.org.uk
Bridge Lane Nursery This December, the children at Bridge Lane Nursery have been super busy getting all excited and prepared for Christmas. As well as the young ones’ yoga and Stretch and Grow exercise classes, the children have been impressing everyone in their music sessions with their singing and dancing along to their favourite Christmas songs. Every child has been taking part in showing off their unique creative skills as they have been sticking and gluing to produce a wonderful array of decorations to hang on the tree. But ssshhhh! … There has also been a surprise visit from Father Christmas! What a treat! But of course, this is because all the children at Bridge Lane Nursery are on the good list this year. www.bridgelanenursery.com
Bright Horizons Northcote Road Day Nursery and Preschool These are some of the learning experiences that the children have been doing throughout the month of December. The babies have been using both gross and fine motor skills to create this wonderful artwork. Lots of critical thinking has been involved and problem solving. The Children have had a wonderful time creating these. Have a wonderful bubbly Christmas and Happy New Year. Preschool have been exploring arctic animals and making their own Christmas trees using different materials and tools. They are very excited about Christmas! www.brighthorizons.co.uk
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Churcher’s College Junior School and Nursery It was with great excitement that the Nursery and Reception children retold the story of ‘The First Christmas’ in their nativity production this week. The children delighted their parents and grandparents with their beautiful singing and storytelling. They looked wonderful in their costumes on a stage bedecked with little, sparkling stars. The event was just magical and we are all so proud of the children. What a fabulous way to start the school Christmas celebrations! We have a very special Christmas gingerbread house set up in the Nursery, complete with a fireplace and sofa, where the children can explore lots of Christmassy books and activities. They can also design and make their own Christmas cards and post them in the ‘post office’ with its little post box. The children are looking forward to a Christmas party to round off a fabulous fun-filled term! www.churcherscollege.com/nursery-3-4-/about-the-nursery
Eaton House the Manor Nursery Christmas is absolutely my favourite time of year! The children have been creating Christmas cookies and baking biscuit baubles! There is glitter galore, from wrapping and writing to sticking and stamping the letters and parcels! Father Christmas has got lots of letters with many requests, I know that all our children are on the nice list! Everyone has a part in A Bundle of Joy,
they have been singing, acting and dancing to the brilliant Out of the Ark soundtrack, and having a week on Zoom didn’t stop the excitement and energy of our staff and children. There has been Christmas jumper day in aid of Save the Children, along with numerous creative crafts and incredible imaginative igloos!!!! Everyone deserves a delightful Christmas and a wonderful New Year! www.eatonhouseschools.com/ the-manor/nursery
Little Forest Folk Nursery Little Forest Folk in Putney Heath is a fully outdoor nursery and the children there have been busy in the forest getting into the swing of the festive season. The children have been creating their very own special Christmas spiral calendars so they can count down the days to Christmas, taking great care to paint them in beautiful colours. There have also been plenty of other creative festive crafts happening including collages and even making sensory tree cookies which were exquisitely decorated. The children have also enjoyed reading festive books together with their friends in the forest which has led to lots of lovely imaginary play. Little Forest Folk Putney Heath are all keeping their fingers and toes crossed for some snow before the end of the year, so they can get the sleds out and go sledging in the forest! www.littleforestfolk.com/putneyheath
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BOOK CORNER
Self-Belief Overcoming the monster I used a childhood experience as a springboard to write a story called The Good Bear. The part about asking for a typewriter and the disappointment at receiving a pair of wellies instead is true. For the child in the story her particular challenges are imagined, but also true in their own way. Like us, all characters experience difficulties and jeopardy that serve to thwart or inspire them. Children are encouraged to read books for many reasons, not only to disappear into another world and stand in another’s shoes. Stories mimic life, from
the conflicts and unexpected gifts to the tests and triumphs. As well as external ‘monsters’, represented by things such as orphanages, villains, bullies or bears, it is also the character’s inner doubts and struggles that need overcoming too. A belief in ourselves, as far as I can see, is about recognising our skills and flaws, even through stories, seeing possibility and learning to keep going. One day we will find ourselves telling our own story of overcoming those monsters. The book is dedicated to my mother because of the disappointment she saw in me when I opened that box of wellies. But she now knows it was overcoming my own lack of self-belief that mattered, not the typewriter. THE GOOD BEAR by Sarah Lean is out now (Paperback, Simon & Schuster Children’s Books) www.sarahlean.co.uk
Help a child learn to read Volunteer with Bookmark Help a child develop the reading skills and confidence they need for a fair chance in life. Read together for 30 minutes, twice a week, for six weeks.
www.bookmarkreading.org/educhoices Registered Charity No. 1177681
EDUCATION EDUCATION CORNER PODCAST Interviews and insights from CORNER leading figures in education PODCAST
“Happy children learn best … we adapt, and we are flexible and we create plans according to what children need.” Churcher’s College Nursery and Junior School: Ffion Robinson CLICK HERE to listen to the podcast
When asked about the Churcher’s College Nursery and Junior School ethos, Ffion responds: “Our USP [Unique Selling Point], really, is to make sure we have happy teenagers, and to our best ability we create those happy teenagers.” When discussing the school’s pupil praise, Ffion explains: “It is one of the many ways we try to boost self-esteem at the Junior School and Nursery. So, teachers will share with me children who deserve praise for their work in class – it could be effort-based or attainment-based – then I take the list of children…and then I handwrite a personal message individually to those children.” Discussing Churcher’s College Nursery and Junior School motto and educational approach, Ffion believes: “Practice makes Progress.”
KEY TOPICS: The Churcher’s College ethos Advantages of a South Downs location Extracurricular clubs and activities Supporting the students inside and outside the classroom Entry points Features of a Churcher’s child Pupil praise Embracing inclusion and diversity activities and specialist sports
TURN TO P12 to read Ffion Robinson’s article on developing independence at Churcher’s Junior School
NORMAL BOYS EXTRAORDINARY POTENTIAL
Open Morning March 2022 Find out more at
rgsg.co.uk
An exceptional independent education for boys aged 3 to 18
LIMITED YEAR 3 PLACES FOR SEPTEMBER 2022 AVAILABLE
SPECIAL FEATURE Inclusion and Diversity/A Father ’s Perspective
EDUCATION CHOICES PODCAST INTERVIEW WITH
Marvyn Harrison Marvyn Harrison, founder of Dope Black Dads and BELOVD, talks about his experience as a father and his work as a diversity and inclusion champion
Dope Black Dads started as a closed WhatsApp group between a handful of fathers in 2018 and has grown across social media and the web, hosting live events (with a Webby Award-winning podcast) and has now become a series of communities. There are more than 250,000 members across the UK, US and South Africa. This is an incredible achievement!
PHOTORAGHY: LAURA SHIMILI
What inspired you to set up Dope Black Dads?
The inspiration for starting was really being challenged by the idea of male parenting. Parenting is probably the only place which is heavily female normative and so the male perspective is relatively unknown and untapped in terms of what kind of things you can do as a parent. I’ve had some terrible experiences going to baby groups, dealing with the NHS at times or medical professionals, where I’m almost ignored and erased. I always wanted to be this amazing father. There have been a lot of fear driven boundaries historically, but I wanted to have this really beautiful relationship with my children, so when I had my second child, and I felt I was finding it difficult to connect with her, it really, really impacted me. So, I just wanted to talk to other dads about it really. I think that being Black fathers, knowing the historic and cultural pressures as well as the fatherhood stuff really, really mattered. We just started having really important conversations that I had never had before, even with people who I had known for many years. We had this really beautiful beginning.
Following this, we then told our stories of our experiences, openly acknowledging the challenges we have in parenting. What that’s then created has meant that more dads are talking about this thing which we are all going through around the world, every man has the possibility of being a dad, and you have to understand it before you start it, and if you have already started a family you want to know how to keep your relationships with your children pure and supportive. How did it begin?
The first thing was when we moved from a Whatsapp group of 33 people to a Podcast. We were discussing things that even I didn’t understand and nobody else understood. As a result, we wanted to talk about these topics at length. We created the Podcast quite early on after about 3 months. Essentially, it was just a conversation, there was no fancy music with transitions it was more like:
“I think that confidence in parenting for dads is low. It’s not a place where they feel powerful: it’s a place where they’re constantly second guessing themselves; there is a slight imposter syndrome.” » EDUCATION CHOICES MAGAZINE | WI NT ER 2021 | 21
Senior School & Sixth Form
Be inspired Be brilliant Be you Saturday Group Visits available To book your place contact Admissions@lancing.org.uk
Registered Charity Number 1076483
SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS
Lancing College Choir Choral excellence from over 55 pupils Many of our Choristers have been part of a choir at their previous schools, and a significant number have joined from cathedral schools such as St Paul’s, Salisbury, Westminster, Ely and Exeter. New pupils will also join the Choir when they arrive in the Sixth Form. Being a full time Chorister involves two main rehearsals per week of 30 minutes each for the Full Choir, which sings at the school Eucharist every Wednesday morning. The Choir is also invited to sing at other venues such as Chichester Cathedral and St Georges, Windsor. Additionally, there is an opportunity to join the Choral Scholars – a chamber choir drawn
from members of the Full Choir. Our Choristers enjoy an array of opportunities – not only are they able to rehearse and sing in the largest school chapel in the world, but many other avenues are available to all pupils who enjoy singing: for example, Student Voices is open to anyone, and joins with the adult College Singers once per year to sing in a largescale choral concert; the terrific A Cappella Club sings arrangements of pop songs; singers who enjoy music theatre can audition for the school musical; and many singers join a band in the Rock Music
Workshops. After Lancing, many of our Choristers move on to achieve a chorister scholarship at prestigious universities such as Oxford and Cambridge, and many others will continue to sing in the OL Choir at special events. www.lancingcollege.co.uk TURN TO P50 to read about ‘Getting Cozy’ this winter…
07738238273 info@cjaeducationalconsultancy.com www.cjaeducationalconsultancy.com
Chloe Abbott
Educational Consultant • Introductory meeting to get to know your family and your child/children • Assessment when required to establish your child’s levels • School advice for both primary and secondary in the London area and beyond • Support and advice on suitable school choices • Booster sessions in key exam skills
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LIFESTYLE AND LIVING
Winter Magic Galuchat Design celebrates ‘getting cozy’ over the coming months...
As leaves stop falling, I wonder when snow is arriving, marking the real start of that favourite festive winter season? No matter the politics, trials and tribulations of our current topsy-turvy world, there is nothing like a breath of fresh, crisp air, a thickly laden cottony sky, to open the mind and conjure up warm, fuzzy feelings of escape to higher summits. Yes, if all goes well, for some of us, the mountain is calling and the hills will be alive again with the sound of laughter and abandon. Winter holiday magic is a matter of contrasts.
libations and oozy rich cheese in all possible guises. And pause. Time to reflect, take stock. Enjoy. Just be. The backdrop to such moments is key. We look for comfort and softness, in a framework of reassuring solidity. We want cushy sofas, furry blankets, velvet armchairs, padded headboards, thick marshmallow duvets and woolly curtains, all enhanced by the golden hues of a well-tended fire, subtle lighting, suggestive shadows. We want sturdy, aged wood, knots and veins telling stories of ancient forests, calloused hands crafting shelter
Is there anything more delightful, after a thrilling, chilling downhill run, than a warm pause by a blazing fire, igniting your insides with cocoa or mulled wine? Can there be a starker contrast than the heady vastness of sparkling mountain below you and snowy sky above you, compared to the dense, paved streets, peppered with human beings, buildings and vehicles, left behind only a few hours ago? We ask of our winter breaks that they bring escape and change. Challenging us physically, with athletic feats, daredevil stunts, robust hikes and dizzying heights, braving elements and endurance. Rewarding us physically, with soothing massages, hot tubs, sweet 50 | EDUCATION CHOICES MAGAZINE | W I N T E R 2 02 1
for weary travellers. We want noble slate, granite and wrought iron, recalling age-old traditions and trade secrets, passed on, perfected over time, allowing their patina to shield you as you surrender, shedding all of the last few months’, years’, weight off your shoulders. And if hopping on a metal bird to escape to these mountainous
“Create little pockets of flickering delight with clusters of candles, on a mantelpiece, table, window sill or radiator cover… Layering light is one of the most effective techniques to create drama and personality.”
heavenly havens is not on the cards for you, why can you not recreate the same atmosphere at home? You can cast an eye on a room that has seen you do accounts, Pilates and ironing and, with small tweaks, transform it, while giving yourself licence to escape within your own home. If you are ambitious, but not overly so, you could invest in some wallpaper, of the selfadhesive or peel-off kind, if a more permanent solution is too daunting – and redefine a key wall or two. It takes hardly any time at all to install - I still strongly recommend asking a professional decorator to install it for you but the labour cost is minimal for
such easy-to-apply material while the effect will exceed your expectations. If that feels too onerous, redefine the room in question. Add some light sources so as to create additional mood options. A floor lamp with a directional head provides indirect lighting, towards the ceiling or a piece of art, for example. A couple of hidden uplighters at the base of a wall light up said wallpaper, curtains, a texture or colour. Create little pockets of flickering delight with clusters of candles, on a mantelpiece, table, window sill or radiator cover… Layering light is one of the most effective techniques to create drama and personality. Low floor level, side table lamps or candles, floor or wall lamps are great additions to a room that only has ceilingmounted lights. When we allow ourselves the luxury to take a breath, we want to feel cocooned with a haloed alcove in the space
we chose, not floating within its brightly-lit expanse. Create a winter scheme that can allow a quick change-over to a spring or summer one later: get some furry cushion covers, or velvet or bouclé options, get a faux fur throw, or a thick woolly or cashmere option. Add sparkly candle holders and tealight saucers, a gingerbread or spicy room scent, essential oil or candle. Fill a vase with fragrant pine or fir tree branches. And to finish it all off, light a comforting fire or turn on the fireplace channel (you laugh, you’d be surprised!) or It’s A Wonderful Life, sit back, pull on your bamboo socks, take a sip of your chosen tipple and breathe in that wintery escape feeling. You got away. www.galuchatdesign.com TURN TO P49 to read about the Surrey property market
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SURREY SCHOOLS SPECIAL FEATURE MAINTAINED SCHOOL OPTIONS
SOME LEADING MAINTAINED SCHOOL OPTIONS PRIMARY SCHOOLS SCHOOL New Haw Community Junior School South Farnham School St Alban’s Catholic Primary School
HEADTEACHER WEBSITE Mrs Cahill www.new-haw.surrey.sch.uk
LOCATION New Haw
Miss Esther Whitbourn www.south-farnham.surrey.sch.uk Farnham Mr M Brannigan www.stalbans.surrey.sch.uk East Molesey
St Augustine’s Catholic Primary Mrs A Walsh www.staugustine.surrey.sch.uk/surrey Frimley School /primary/staugustines St Dunstan’s Catholic Primary School The Raleigh School Town Farm Primary School & Nursery Wallace Fields Junior School Wonersh and Shamley Green CofE Aided Primary School Wallace Fields Junior School
Mrs Julianne Birch
www.stdunstans.surrey.sch.uk Woking
Mrs Fiona O’Neill Mr Bhatti
www.theraleigh.org West Horsley www.town-farm-surrey.uk Staines
Mr Steve Lee Mr Tim Cheesman
www.wallacefields-jun.surrey.sch.uk Epsom www.wsg.surrey.sch.uk Shamley Green
Mr Steve Lee
www.wallacefields-jun.surrey.sch.uk Epsom
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SURREY SCHOOLS SPECIAL FEATURE MAINTAINED SCHOOL OPTIONS
SECONDARY SCHOOLS SCHOOL HEADTEACHER WEBSITE LOCATION All Hallows Catholic School Mr Mark Baines www.allhallows.net Farnham Ash Manor School Ms A Bailey www.ashmanorschool.com Ashford Bishop David Brown School Mr J Rodgers www.bdb.surrey.sch.uk Woking Blenheim High School Mr A A Bodell www.blenheim.surrey.sch.uk Epsom Broadwater School Mrs Lizzi Matthews www.broadwater.surrey.sch.uk Godalming Carrington School Ms Kerry Oakley www.carringtonschool.org Redhill (formerly The Warwick School) Christ’s College Guildford Mrs Sarah Hatch www.christscollege.surrey.sch.uk Guildford Cobham Free School Executive Headteacher: www.cobhamfreeschool.org.uk Cobham Mrs Michaela Khatib Collingwood College Mr E Tanner www.collingwoodcollege.com Camberley de Stafford School Executive Head: www.destafford.org.uk Caterham Jeremy Garner Epsom and Ewell High School Mr James Newman www.epsomandewellhighschool.com Ewell Esher Church of England Executive Head: www.esherhigh.surrey.sch.uk Esher High School Mr Mike Boddington Head of School: Mr Andy King Farnham Heath End Mr Stuart Maginnis www.fhes.org.uk Farnham Fullbrook School Ms Katie Moore www.fullbrook.surrey.sch.uk Addlestone George Abbot School Mrs K Carriett www.georgeabbot.surrey.sch.uk Guildford Glebelands School Mr Russell Mitchell www.glebelands.surrey.sch.uk Cranleigh Glyn School Executive Head: www.glynschool.org Ewell Mr M Duffield Head of School: Mrs J Garrod Gordon’s School Mr Andrew J Moss www.gordons.school Woking Guildford County School Mr Steve Smith www.guildfordcounty.co.uk Guildford Heathside School Head of School: www.heathside.surrey.sch.uk Weybridge Mr Gareth Lewis Executive Principal: Ms Anne Cullum Hinchley Wood School Ms Maria Cachia & www.hinchleywoodschool.co.uk Esher Ms Lucy Macdonald Howard of Effingham School www.thehoward.org Effingham Jubilee High School Mr Mark Conroy www.jubileehigh.surrey.sch.uk Addlestone Kings College Guildford Mr McKenzie www.kingscollegeguildford.com Guildford Kings International College Mrs J Morgan www.kingsinternational.co.uk Camberley Oakwood School Mr S Potten www.oakwood.surrey.sch.uk Horley Oxted School Executive Head: www.oxtedschool.org Oxted Ms Anne Louise Payne Head of School: Mr Russell Bond Reigate School Mr M Alexander www.reigate-school.surrey.sch.uk Reigate Rodborough Mr Matthew www.rodborough.surrey.sch.uk Godalming Armstrong-Harris Rosebery School Ms Ros Allen www.roseberyschool.co.uk Epsom Royal Alexandra and Albert Interim Head: www.raa-school.co.uk Reigate School James Malley Salesian School, Chertsey Executive Head: www.salesian.surrey.sch.uk Chertsey Mr James Kibble
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SURREY SCHOOLS SPECIAL FEATURE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL OPTIONS
Milbourne Lodge School For further information, please visit: www.milbournelodge.co.uk
More House School Nationally celebrated as a centre for excellence and graded Outstanding in all areas by Ofsted (2019 and 2020), our school boasts a rich history of supporting boys with Specific Learning and Language difficulties, and associated conditions, in realising successes far beyond their expectations, transforming their futures. Our academic results at GCSE, A Level and BTEC are consistently above the national average for all schools, and the curriculum is complemented by an inspiring extra-curricular programme, so that each boy is successful amongst his peers, and learns to recognise that success. Building our students’ self-confidence and independence enables them to transform their lives and pursue aspirational futures. www.morehouseschool.co.uk
Notre Dame School (Prep and Senior) For further information, please visit: www.notredame.co.uk
Parkside School At Parkside School, computer hacking sessions in the new Computer Headquarters (CHQ) room, set to the lilting sounds of Mozart, are a regular occurrence, as are creative engineering sessions in the DT workshop. This is an example of what lies at the heart of Parkside School; encouraging an empathy and understanding of the value of traditional skills, mixed with developing an innovative mindset to prepare for our ever-changing future. Music and laughter fill the corridors of this exquisite and historic School set in 45 acres of stunning countryside. A rigorous and successful pre-test programme ensures first choice Senior School places and scholarships are achieved. The innovative curriculum is delivered creatively in all subjects including forest school, drama and art from the co-ed Nursery through to Year 8. www.parkside-school.co.uk
Prior’s Field School For further information, please visit: www.priorsfieldschool.com
Reed’s School A successful HMC independent day and boarding school providing an education for pupils between 11 and 18, with girls in the Sixth Form. Set amongst 40 acres in Cobham, Surrey Reed’s offers huge advantages for day pupils, such as wrap-around care and outstanding pastoral support, allowing every child to be known and valued. Their values-driven education equips pupils with excellent academic qualifications and the interpersonal skills they’ll need for the future; it ensures when they leave they will possess a strong moral compass and a desire to go into the world and improve it. Entry points are boys at 11+, 13+; boys and girls in the Sixth Form. reeds.surrey.sch.uk
Reigate Grammar School Reigate Grammar School prides itself in helping children reach their full potential. Each child has their unique blend of talents, skills, aspirations and abilities. Appreciating and developing these qualities on the journey from childhood to young adulthood is a privilege and a responsibility that we take seriously. Students will flourish in our care, their self-esteem will grow, and they will become a success story for themselves, their family and their school. But we will not forget that, behind their confident smile, they are still your daughter or son and that they will need our support and dedication every day. www.reigategrammar.org 6 0 | EDUCATION CHOICES MAGAZINE | W I N T E R 2 02 1
SURREY SCHOOLS SPECIAL FEATURE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL OPTIONS
Ripley Court School Ripley Court is a leading Co-Educational Nursery and Prep School for children age 3 – 11 years. With extensive playing fields, its own forest school and an indoor swimming pool, Ripley Court is an idyllic environment for educating its pupils. We pride ourselves on having a warm, family atmosphere where exceptional pastoral care is at the heart of what we do. Pupils are inspired and encouraged to reach their full potential through our broad curriculum, weekly enrichment programme and the wealth of extracurricular activities offered. We are proud of the pupils’ academic successes, with many Year 6 pupils obtaining scholarships to their chosen secondary schools. www.ripleycourt.co.uk
Rowan Preparatory School Start your journey at Rowan Prep School, an outstanding Preschool and Prep for girls aged 2-11 in Claygate, Surrey. Rowan Prep is a vibrant, friendly and nurturing community where girls are encouraged to be themselves. With traditional values and a forward-thinking approach to education, we offer a broad and adventurous curriculum full of exciting opportunities. Girls acquire life skills and knowledge that will prepare them for their time at top senior schools and beyond. Girls typically join in Preschool, Reception and Year 3. We look forward to welcoming you to our happy school. www.rowanprepschool.co.uk
Royal Grammar School Prep At RGS Prep, we provide the very best start for your son. We interweave gold-standard academic rigour with technological innovation, freedom of thought, and celebration of the individual. We encourage a climate of openness and awareness, based on mutual respect, rather than instruction and obedience based on authority. From the Prep School onwards, we foster an academic boldness that is the prerequisite to curiosity and creativity – an insistence on how to think, not what to think. This is at the very heart of the RGS ethos. Our pupils are brimming with enthusiasm, curiosity and energy. They are well-mannered and polite. They are individual. But, most of all, they are happy. Main points of entry are Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 3. www.rgsg.co.uk
Royal Grammar School Guildford We are a kind, tolerant school where diverse opportunity, personal development, high achievement and collaborative partnership define who we are, and where our values of inclusivity, scholarship, integrity, respect, courage, and collaboration underpin all we do. The RGS ethos nurtures an academic boldness that is the prerequisite to curiosity and creativity – an insistence on how to think, not what to think. We want to ignite in all our boys a love of learning. Our boys enjoy a wide range of co-curricular activities, cultivate new interests and passions, and develop a variety of skills, many of which will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Main points of entry are Year 7 and Year 9. www.rgsg.co.uk
Shrewsbury House School Shrewsbury House School is an outstanding independent Prep School for boys aged 7–13 located in Surbiton, Surrey. With a superb academic record, committed staff, small class sizes and dedicated pastoral care, every boy has the opportunity to fulfil his potential. Shrewsbury House School has a national reputation for success in Scholarships and Awards to top day and boarding Senior Schools at 13+.Shrewsbury House Prep School has recently been judged ‘Excellent’ in all areas following a recent ISI inspection in September 2021. shrewsburyhouse.net
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